Collapsible running gear



Feb. 17, 1931. E. F. BENSON 1,793,353

COLLAPSIBLE RUNNING GEAR Filed Sept. 21. 1928 INVENTOR Edward 7736/75 an ATTORN EY "STATES Patented Feb. 17, 1931 nnwimnn. BENSON, or wooncLIrE on nunsolv, ivnw'JERsEv GOLLAPSIBLE'RUNNING GEAR Application filedSeptember. 21, 1928. Serial Ira-307,380.

a for adjusting the article to which the invention is attached with respect to the axle and wheels on which the same is mounted en'- abling the article to be raised or lowered with respect to the wheels. 1 v H still further object is to provide an article of this character of simple and practical construction, strong and durable, which may be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled, which is neat and attractive in appearance and well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

A still further object is to provide a running gear of this character whereby the design and construction when assembled and 7 being packed for transportation, allow" a maximum space of one wheel.

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction and combination of the various elements comprising the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein;

Figure l is a perspective view of the unit,

Figure 2 is a view. in elevation of the axle, and wheels showing the manner of attaching the same to the body supporting arms,

Figure3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through-the center of the running ear, I a g Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 8, Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the hinge plates for attaching the body support ing arm and Figure 6 is a detail of the sectional axle. Referring now to the drawings in detall the invention comprises a collapsible running gear having wheels 1 rotatably mounted on axle extensions 3. When one or two pairs of wheels are required each pair of wheels are mounted onaxle extensions 3 having their inner .ends provided with longitudinal bores within the'red uced ends of an a xle 2 I are received. The axle .extensions 3 are retained in the wheels 1 by nutsi having sock-rv ets 5formedj therein within which. substan- I tially hookshaped armsGare arranged and with the hookedends thereof engaging the nuts whereby to retain the axle extensions in position upon the axle.

The opposite endsof the armsare providedwith openings through which pins 7 extend, the pins being slidably received within openings formed in the axle and extending at the under side; thereof and provided withheajds8. Coll sprlngs 9 are arranged on the pins and areiinterposed between the heads Sand the.

.axle whereby to yieldably restrain the slid:

ing movement of the pins. Upon pressing the heads of the pins inwardly it will be appar ent from an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawingstha't the arms 6 maybe moved out 7 of engagement with the nut sockets and'thus enablethe wheels to be removed from the axle.

The axle 2 designed to be folded without removing the wheels by constructing a rela-' tively short portion of the axle of a plurality of interfitting linksll and 12 pivotally; con nected by pins 13 and slidably vmounting the collar upon the links to maintain the same.

in aline ment, The collar 10 is of sufiicient length tocover theseries ofvlinks Hand is retained, onthe axle to prevent accidental displacement by one of the hooked shaped arms 6, the hook end. thereofengagingthe collar in locked position upon the axle. I 7

Body supporting arms 14 and 15 extend? upwardlyfrom the axle "extensions and are 3 inclined forwardly and rearwardly respec-I tively, the upper end ofeach of the armsber ing pivotally attached with the lower'end of a'link16; The upper ends of the links are provided with longitudinally extending bores V through which pins 17 are inserted with their opposite "ends journaled in bearing members 18 formedat the under side of body at-- taching brackets 19.. V A plate 20 extends downwardly from the under side of each bracket 19 andis arranged in abiittingrelation withthe outer face of an associated link 16' as shown in Figure l whereby to present side sway of the body of the article to which the bracket 19 is attached.

The brackets 19 are secured to the under side of a body 21 which may be raised or low-.

ered with respect to the axle and securedin vertically adjusted position by providing the arms 14 and with longitudinally extending slots 22 with a pin 23 inserted tl erethrough and having a nut 24 threaded on oneend of the pin whereby to secure thelower end of the arm 14 in adjusted position with respect to the arm 1'51 Notches 25 are formed in sl-otted openings 7 formed in the arm 15 forming seats for the pin 23 so as to prevent accidental displacement of the pin in its adjusted position... In providing for the "ad-j'us'tnientit will be noted upon an inspection Of'Figures?) and 440i the drawings that-the lower ends of the arm 14 are supported entirely by reason of their connection withthe pins 23. and the lowerends the axle exaxle forming wheel bearings and interlock} ing means carried by the axle releasably engaging the extensions and the collar for securing the same against longitudinal movement.

4. A vehicle mounting comprising a sectional axle having its sections pivotally connected, a collar slidably mounted on the axle for retaining the sections in alinement, extensions removably attached at the ends of the axle forming wheel bearings and double ended locking members each having one end releasably engageable with one of said extensions and one of saidmembers having its 0pposite end'releasably engageable with said collar and spring retracted pins carried by the axle and 'at'tached'to' the members for yieldablyretaining the same in locked position.

Signedat lVo'odcliit on Hudson, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,

this 17th day of September, A. D. 1928.

' EDVARD F. BENSON.

of, the invention or sacrificing any of its adyantages, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled;

Having thus describedmy invention, what Iclaimasnewis: 1. A vehicle mountingcomprising an axle, extensions removably attached at. the ends thereof forming wheel bearings, interlocking means carried by the axle, releasably engag-' ing the extensions, arms extending upwardly from the extensions and arranged in palrs.

means for adjustably connecting the arms of I each pair, vehicle body attaching brackets pivotally carried at the upper ends of the arm'and means cooperating with said brackets to prevent side sway of the brackets with respect to the arms in one direction.

2. A vehicle mounting comprising an axle, extensionsremovably attached 'at' the ends thereof forming wheel bearings, interlocking I means carried by the axle, releasably engaging the extensions, arms extending upwardly from the extensions and arranged in pairs,

means foradjustably connecting the arms ofeach pair, vehicle body-attaching brackets 7 having plates depending therefrom and links V pivotally connecting the arms with the brack ets and engaging one side of the plates to pre* vent side sway of the body in one direction.

3. A vehicle mounting comprising a sectional axle having its sections pivotally'connected', a collar slidably mounted on the axle for retaining the sections in alinement, extensions removably attached atthe ends of the iso 

